Posted by JahL on January 8, 2003, at 18:07:02
In reply to Why Antipsychotic Medications?, posted by Jumpy on January 8, 2003, at 16:11:54
> > I have bipolar II and my most debilitating symptoms are racing thoughts, irritability, and associated anxiety. My internal monologue just comes out of my mouth and makes no sense.
> Also, for some, Lamictal can be quite simulating and anxiogenic (spelling?). So lowering the dose of lamictal may help in addition.
>
> One question ... why are so many people taking antipsychotics for anxiety? Why risk tardive d. and extrapyramidal symptoms when a benzo will resolve anxiety as well or better?Hi Jumpy. Not necessarily. I have tried all benzos known to man and none of them have any meaningful effect on me. Recently, when I had barely slept for a week, my pdoc gave me some Temezepam, 20mg, to knock me out. I ended up taking 50mg and was still awake 24 hrs later. 50mg will put most people to sleep for a week...
My point is, like most psych meds, benzos are great, essential, for some and do nowt for others. I am not at all comfortable taking an AP (Sulpiride) but the alternative (crippling sp + chronic anxiety + incessant internal monologue) is *far* worse.
I agree that Lamictal can be rather 'energising'. I take 400mg and have terrible RLS as a (partial) result. (Should only be taking 200mg but idiot pdoc shoved dose up to 400mg and now I lose the plot if dose drops below this).
Cheers,
J
poster:JahL
thread:134359
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030106/msgs/134996.html